It's important we give people the choice to spend their final days at home

It's important we give people the choice to spend their final days at home

Tue 30 Aug, 2016

With our ageing population and increasingly complex medical conditions, it's important that we strive to give people who are dying the choice to spend their final days at home rather than in hospital.
Alison Johnstone MSP

Alison Johnstone MSP, Health & Social Care spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today commented on new figures showing no increase in the time spent at home rather than in hospital in the final six months of life.

Health care charity Sue Ryder has also revealed that only one of Scotland’s 14 health boards provides a comprehensive out-of-hours service for people who are dying.

Alison Johnstone MSP said:

"With our ageing population and increasingly complex medical conditions, it's important that we strive to give people who are dying the choice to spend their final days at home rather than in hospital. This means a really joined up approach to our health and social care system.

"The figures released today suggest the need for a greater effort from Government and health boards to make the option of palliative care at home a realistic one for more people."

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